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Cover Letter Guide
Cover Letters
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a single-page letter written to the person or organization listing the job you are applying
for. A well-written cover letter should not only introduce you as a job candidate, but also provide
additional context beyond your resume. Taking the time to craft a cover letter for each job you apply
to allows you to express your interest in both the role and company, but tailored to demonstrate the skills
and experiences you will contribute to the organization.
When should I write a cover letter?
You should write a cover letter for every job or internship you apply to, even if the employer does
not specically ask for one. Taking the initiative to craft a personalized letter demonstrates a higher
level of interest and attention to detail that may elevate you above other candidates. A strong cover letter
serves as your personal pitch for the role.
Who should I address a cover letter to?
Whenever possible, address your letter to a specic individual within the organization who is
responsible for the hiring decision. While you can typically nd a name listed within the job listing; if
a name is not listed, check the organization’s website for the appropriate person or use LinkedIn as a
research tool. If you cannot nd a specic name, address the letter as “Dear Recruiting Coordinator,” or
“Dear Hiring Manager,”.
Where should I send a digital cover letter?
When applying for a position, most listings will either have their
own portal to which you can upload your cover letter or request
that you email your document to a specic address. Always
upload your cover letter and resume as a PDF unless directed
otherwise by the application. When saving your cover letter,
use an appropriate and informative le name. For example, use
“JaneDoe_CoverLetter” rather than “UpdatedCoverLetter” or
“CLVersion3”. Keeping a le name clean and to the point may be
helpful to the recruiter or hiring manager.
How do I write a cover letter?
While you should write a unique cover letter for each job you apply
to, you don’t have to start from scratch each time. Check out our
general format below and follow our tips and tricks so you can
craft a successful cover letter.
Cover Letter Guide
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Cover Letter Structure
Header
The header of your cover letter includes your contact
information, by which the employer can get a hold of you.
Be sure to include your name, address, both current and
permanent if applicable, such your phone number, and
email address. If you have a header atop your resume, it’s a
good idea to also use that as the header of your cover letter
as well.
If you are submitting a digital cover letter, there is no need
to include the employer’s address information. Simply begin
the letter with an appropriate greeting, such as ‘Dear’ and the
hiring manager’s name, following the ‘Who should I address
a cover letter to’ section above.
Introduction
Introduce yourself as a job candidate! You might want to include:
• The purpose of your letter (what position you’re applying for)
• How you heard about the position, especially if it’s through a personal connection
• Your education or any exceptional work experiences relevant to the position
• Personal mission statement and how this statement relates to the job/internship
Body
Some job and internship listings will ask the candidate to use the cover letter as an opportunity to answer
specic questions detailed in the posting. However, if the company asks for a general cover letter, use the
body of your letter to dive into the experiences you list in your resume and provide additional context.
Prioritize highlighting specic jobs and projects or tasks you completed, including what you accomplished
and detailed outcomes.
If you’re short on experience, or having a dicult time beginning the body of your cover letter, consider
asking yourself these questions to get going in the right direction.
What are my professional accomplishments?
• University experience
• Work or internship experience
• Volunteer experience
What are my professional goals?
• What industry do I want to work in and what drives me to want to work there?
• What type of daily work do I want to do?
• What type of workplace do I see myself excelling in?
What are my personal goals?
• Does the job or internship I’m applying to help me pursue short-term or long-term goals?
• Could this job or internship provide me with an opportunity to move up in the workplace or provide
me with skills to pursue a more intensive role?
Ascend Tip
A successful cover letter
should contain these following
components:
Header, Introduction,
Body, and Conclusion
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What is the intersection of my personal values or passions and professional goals?
• What is my personal or professional mission statement?
• How can I align my personal values or passions into my daily work?
• Does this job or internship allow me to live with integrity to my personal or professional mission?
Once you’ve answered these questions, consider highlighting your...
Education
• Describe your degree, school, and university, as relevant
• Highlight any relevant links from your university to the role you’re applying to
• Relevant coursework or academic experiences, including but not limited to classes/research experience
Professional Achievements
• Elaborate on the work experiences listed in your resume
• Make those experiences relevant to the reader by linking them to the job you’re applying for
Personal Touch
• Share any relevant societies, clubs, or volunteer experiences
• Draw parallels between your non-work experiences and the responsibilities and duties of the job
Conclusion
Wrap-up your cover letter and leave a lasting impression with the hiring manager. It’s a good idea to include:
• A variation of your mission statement, to mirror your introductory paragraph
• The role you’re applying for
• A personal “Thank You” and an appropriate sign-o
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Formatting Tips + Tricks
There are two things to keep in mind when formatting your cover letter:
• Always include your name and contact information at the top of your cover letter. Re-using the
same format as your resume is helpful to maintain uniformity. Formatting this information
so it ts into the header is not only a good way to save time adjusting the rest of your letter, but
also saves valuable space.
• While a cover letter should never exceed a single page, playing with font size and margins can
help create space after you’ve exhausted the editing process. Use a size 11 font or reduce the
margins from the standard 1” to get some extra space. Just be sure to print out your letter to
make sure it’s still easy to read. Save as a PDF to maintain the formatting!
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Final Thoughts
Remember that just as every cover letter you write is
unique, you as a job candidate bring something unique
to the table. Own your experiences, showcase your
skills, and don’t apologize for something you think you
might be missing.
Writing a cover letter can seem like a daunting task, but
you will improve with practice. Proofread profusely, and
if given the opportunity, have extra eyes look at your
cover letter and provide feedback.
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Advice From Our Managers
Many of our Managers of Recruitment see cover letters daily. Here is some advice they have for you when
preparing to write a cover letter!
Manager of Recruitment, Alex Nagy says,
“When concluding a cover letter, I recommend including a line
about why you’re specically interested in this organization and
emphasize any expected next steps. For example, you could say,
Working for a company whose values so closely align with my own is an
exciting prospect. I hope to continue learning more about this company
and share more of my experience through an interview. Not only does this
bring the letter to a nice conclusion, but it also sets clear expectations
for how you’d like to move forward.”
Manager of Strategy + Operations, Zach Bellavia says,
“Be prepared to answer a fundamental question: why do you want
to work for this employer? Your cover letter should serve not only as
evidence of your experience, but also share your interest in working
for the employer.”
Manager of Recruitment, Lauren Riley says,
“There is no such thing as too much proofreading! Multiple revisions
and extra eyes can save a strong cover letter from silly errors. I’ve had
candidates in the past address the cover letter to the wrong employer
or even include the wrong position title.”
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Jane Doe
[email protected] | (555) 123-4567
Apt. A 123 W. Main St | Anywhere, IN 47404
789 E. Maple Ave. | Nowheresville, IN 46204
Dear Ms. Jones,
I am writing to apply to the position of Community Outreach Intern for Nowheresville County Parks
Department, as advertised on the Ascend Indiana Network. I was introduced to this position after a
conversation with my recruiter, Alex Smith, and wanted to express my interest with you. I am a current
student at the State University School of Public Aairs who rmly believes in and actively tries to embody
the school’s motto, Engage the Good, Be the Change, and I am condent that working with the department
would be a unique opportunity to align my experience, passions, and mission and allow me to engage with
my county and work to bring about meaningful change.
As a working student, I have had experience in a range of industries, but all serving towards the same
goal: outreach and engagement. From my time working as an ambassador in the School of Public Aairs’
Undergraduate Oce to serving as an outreach intern for Volunteers in Medicine of Anywhere County
to summer experiences as a cashier at a local grocer; my work has always placed a heavy emphasis on
teamwork and stakeholder engagement to achieve a common goal.
I am condent in writing that working as an outreach intern for Volunteers in Medicine of Anywhere County
has been a great preparation for the work I would do with the Nowheresville County Parks Department. As
an outreach intern, it was not only my job to inform the community of the free medical services the clinic
oered to those who did not have or could not aord medical insurance, but also to build community
partnerships to increase volunteerism and fundraising. During my 9-month internship, I worked with the
community to forge partnerships between the clinic and local business and campus groups. My work
resulted in the long-term partnership between Volunteers in Medicine of Anywhere County and the State
University’s Volunteer Club, which still stands strong today. The rst year of this partnership developed the
now annual VIM Fun Run 5k, which, in its rst year, raised over $2,500 for medical services. I’m proud of this
work because I had to be self-motivated to achieve these goals and it conrmed my love for community
outreach and fundraising.
I’m inspired to work with your department because of not only my personal connection to the
Nowheresville County, as a born and raised resident, but also because I’m excited to put my education into
practice. After taking courses like Nonprot Management and Leadership and Human Resource Management,
I’m eager to put these concepts from these classes, like strategic stakeholder engagement and program
evaluation and outcome assessments, to the test and engage the Nowheresville County community with
events and opportunities the department undertakes.
I submit my application to you, Ms. Jones, excited in knowing that this Community Outreach Internship
for Nowheresville County Parks Department, is a unique summer opportunity for me to continue the
community outreach work I am passionate about. I welcome the opportunity to engage the good and to be
the change within our community and look forward to discussing with you more about this internship and
what I may look like as a team member of the Nowheresville County Parks Department.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Using the same header as your
resume is not only a good way to
maintain uniformity among your
documents, but it’s also a great
space saver!
Begin your letter with a clear
purpose. Be sure to include
the full name of the role you’re
applying for.
Share how you heard about the
position. Including a mutual
connection can help bridge the
gap between you and the hiring
manager.
Including a personal mission
statement or credo can help drive
your letter.
Relate your mission statement
back to the role you’re applying to.
Include a transitional paragraph
to introduce you as a candidate,
highlighting your relevant
education, work, or personal
experiences.
Try to include responsibilities in
your cover letter that are listed in
the job description.
Be prepared to include why you
want to work for the employer.
If you include academic
experience, don’t just list the
names of courses. Pull out key
elements from the classes that
would be relevant to the job.
Don’t forget to include the full
job or internship title in your
conclusion.
Return to your personal mission
statement.
Encourage and invite the hiring
manager to take the next step.
Include an appropriate sign-o
and add a handwritten signature
for a personal touch.
Cover Letter Example
